JONNO opened on Wednesday evening as part of the Next Stage Theatre Festival at Factory Theatre. It’s described as an “An angry comedy about a famous radio personality, the women he assaults, and Mr. Donkey Long-Ears, his only friend.” Not much of a stretch to figure out the inspiration for the play. Continue reading 2018 Next Stage Theatre Review: JONNO (Rabbit in a Hat Productions)
Take a road trip across Canada in this new play, now on stage in TorontoOn Saturday, I saw The Tale of a Town – Canada at Theatre Passe Muraille. It was a relaxed performance, the first one I’ve been to. More about that later.
In 2014, husband and wife team Lisa Marie DiLiberto and Charles Ketchabaw set off on a series of road trips with their Storymobile (a portable recording studio) to visit all 10 provinces and three territories. Along the way, they interviewed around 3000 people about their towns and their memories. The Tale of a Town – Canada is the result. Continue reading Review – The Tale of a Town – Canada (FIXT POINT)
A zany battle of words and wits between two alpha opponents takes the stage in TorontoDaniel MacIvor‘s play Never Swim Alone opened on Friday at The Commons Theatre. It’s produced by the two year old Don’t Look Down Theatre Company and it’s the first play they’ve produced that they didn’t write. It was a big night for them. They did a fine job.
The play is a 75-minute stylized 13 round match between two alpha males, Bill (Ryan James) and Frank (Cedric Martin) who were childhood best friends, to see who is “the first man”. The Referee (Tyshia Drake) oversees the contest and determines the winner of each round. Continue reading Review: Never Swim Alone (Don’t Look Down Theatre Company)
This tale of a chance meeting is charming and “gently funny”, on stage in TorontoThe Canadian Stage production of Simon Stephens‘ Heisenberg had its Canadian premiere at the Berkeley Street Theatre on Thursday. It’s the final play that Matthew Jocelyn is directing as Artistic and General Director and it’s a terrific note to end on.
The play is an unconventional love story that unfolds on an almost bare stage. There is nothing to distract from the acting which makes or breaks the piece, and the acting was fabulous. Continue reading Review: Heisenberg (Canadian Stage)
Broken Social Scene’s Kevin Drew debuts his new play A&R Angels at Toronto’s Crow’s TheatreIf I were giving a prize for the funniest, darkest opening scene in a play I’ve seen this year it would go to Crow’s Theatre production of A&R Angels, playing at Streetcar Crowsnest.
A man (Gordon S. Miller who is terrific as two “suiciders”) walks into a room, drinking a Slurpee. He finishes the drink, puts the cup on a table, climbs on a chair, and slips a noose around his neck. Enter the angels! Continue reading Review: A&R Angels (Crow’s Theatre)